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Inventors of Ideas : Introduction to Western Political Philosophy

Summary

A concise yet comprehensive introduction to the Western political thought from the Ancient Greeks to the 21st century, INVENTORS OF IDEAS connects major thinkers' political and societal views to a larger understanding of current politics. Covering the traditional canon of writers while also reflecting a concern or emphasis upon the role of gender and science in western political thought, the book gives students practical and historical foundations with which to look at contemporary social and political issues.

Table of Contents

Preface

xv

About the Authors

xxi

Political Philosophy: Introducing the Challenge

1

(18)

Introduction

1

(1)

Origins of Western Political Thought

2

(1)

Common Treatment, Diverse Results

3

(2)

Comparing Political Philosophers

5

(3)

The Individual and the Collective

8

(1)

Family and Gender Roles

9

(2)

Comparison of Roles and Natures of Men and Women

9

(1)

Role of the Family in Political Thinking

10

(1)

Development of Political Philosophy over Time

11

(1)

Techniques for Reconciling Conflict between Beliefs

12

(2)

Descriptive and Prescriptive Statements

12

(1)

Concept Clarification

13

(1)

Conclusion

14

(2)

Notes

16

(1)

Additional Readings

17

(2)

Part One ANCIENT POLITICAL THOUGHT

The Playwrights of Athens: Sophocles and Aristophanes

19

(15)

Introduction

19

(2)

Antigone

21

(6)

Lysistrata

27

(4)

Conclusion

31

(1)

Notes

32

(1)

Additional Readings

33

(1)

Plato: Advocating Justice

34

(14)

Introduction

34

(2)

Plato's Method

36

(2)

Knowledge and Justice

38

(1)

Human Nature

38

(1)

The Ideal State

39

(4)

The Need for Specialization

39

(1)

Class Structure and Functions

40

(2)

Education and Censorship

42

(1)

The Role of Women

43

(1)

Inevitable Decline of the Ideal State

43

(1)

Conclusion

44

(1)

Notes

45

(2)

Additional Readings

47

(1)

Aristotle: Endorsing Community

48

(14)

Introduction

48

(1)

Aristotle's Method

49

(1)

Happiness, Values, and Human Nature

49

(1)

Political Economy

50

(1)

Community

51

(3)

Household, Wife, Woman, and Slave

52

(1)

Village

53

(1)

Polis

53

(1)

Political Form of the Polis

54

(3)

Political Change

57

(1)

Conclusion

58

(2)

Notes

60

(1)

Additional Readings

61

(1)

Cicero and Roman Political Thought: The Transformation of the Political

62

(12)

Introduction

62

(1)

Stoicism

63

(1)

Differences between Greek and Roman Political Thought

64

(2)

Cicero

66

(5)

The Commonwealth

67

(1)

Law and Justice

68

(1)

Public and Private Virtues

69

(2)

Conclusion

71

(1)

Notes

71

(2)

Additional Readings

73

(1)

Part Two MEDIEVAL POLITICAL THOUGHT

Paul and Augustine: Emergence of the Christian Political World

74

(15)

Introduction

74

(1)

Human Nature and Christian Equality

75

(1)

Rome and Christianity

76

(1)

St. Augustine and Transformation of Christian Politics

77

(5)

Adam, Eve, and Human Nature

78

(1)

Government and Political Order: Emergence of the Two Cities

79

(1)

Human Nature, History, and the True Republic

80

(2)

Implications of the Doctrine of the Two Cities

82

(1)

Faith versus Reason

82

(1)

Women, Family, and Sexual Desire

83

(2)

Conclusion

85

(1)

Notes

86

(1)

Additional Readings

87

(2)

The Contribution of Islam: John of Salisbury, Thomas Aquinas, and the Rise of the Medieval Political World

89

(15)

Introduction

89

(2)

Aristotle and the Arabic World

91

(2)

John of Salisbury

93

(2)

Aristotle and the Late Middle Ages

95

(1)

Thomas Aquinas

96

(4)

Human Nature and Society

96

(1)

Types of Law

97

(1)

Kingship, Tyranny, and the Family

98

(1)

Church-State Relations and Tolerance

99

(1)

Conclusion

100

(1)

Notes

101

(2)

Additional Readings

103

(1)

Dante and Marsilius: The End of Medieval Political Unity

104

(8)

Introduction

104

(1)

Dante

104

(3)

Human Nature

105

(1)

Political Society

105

(1)

Source of Secular Authority

106

(1)

Marsilius of Padua

107

(2)

Structure and Laws of the State

107

(1)

Church--State Conflict

108

(1)

Conclusion

109

(1)

Notes

110

(1)

Additional Readings

111

(1)

Part Three MODERN POLITICAL THOUGHT

Machiavelli: Escaping Anarchy

112

(21)

Introduction

112

(2)

Style, Substance, and Goals

114

(1)

Machiavelli's Method

115

(1)

Human Nature

116

(1)

Power

117

(2)

Elites and Masses

119

(1)

Fortune and Virtue

120

(1)

Gender

121

(1)

Liberty and War

122

(1)

Forms of Government

123

(5)

Republics

124

(1)

Tyrannies

124

(2)

Constitutional Rule: Monarchies and Republics

126

(1)

Nation-States

127

(1)

Conclusion

128

(2)

Notes

130

(1)

Additional Readings

131

(2)

Luther and Calvin: The Religious Basis of Modern Political Thought

133

(12)

Introduction

133

(2)

The Protestant Reformation

135

(1)

Martin Luther

135

(3)

Theology

135

(2)

Political Implications

137

(1)

John Calvin

138

(4)

Political Theology

139

(3)

Women and the Protestant Reformation

142

(1)

Conclusion

143

(1)

Notes

143

(1)

Additional Readings

144

(1)

Copernicus, Bacon, Descartes, and Newton: The Scientific Basis of Modern Politics